Wind swirled, kicking up dust from the ground.
Suddenly, Sasuke moved. He jumped to the side while forming hand seals rapidly.
Just as he was about to shout "Fire Style," Sasuke felt wind rush past his back. He looked forward—no one there.
He's that fast?
Alarm shot through Sasuke. He lunged forward. The wind pressure followed. He sprinted right. The presence clung to him like a shadow, impossible to shake.
Sasuke's expression darkened. The next instant, he felt himself locked in place, unable to move.
The grip was powerful, like a steel cage. The seals he'd been forming stopped abruptly.
"Gotcha!" A loud laugh blew hot air past his ear. The heat made it tingle and go numb.
Naruto had grabbed Sasuke from behind with both arms, his chin resting on top of Sasuke's head to prevent any movement. His face split into a bright smile. "Hehehe, Sasuke, I caught you again!"
"So, will you be my friend?"
"No." He was Sasuke of the proud Uchiha clan. He wouldn't be coerced by anyone. Since his hands couldn't form seals, Sasuke raised his left foot and kicked backward, aiming for Naruto's head.
In response to Sasuke's resistance, Naruto remained calm. He swept Sasuke's supporting right foot. Sasuke lost balance instantly, and they both fell to the ground.
The moment they hit the dirt, Naruto's legs moved like striking serpents, clamping around Sasuke's legs. He braced his elbows against the ground, twisted, and pinned Sasuke down.
"Sasuke, what do you say? Will you be my friend?" Naruto asked again.
Naruto's Iron Body training had cultivated blood circulation far stronger than normal people, like a furnace radiating heat. With his face extremely close to Sasuke's—practically nose to nose—the intensity was overwhelming.
Moreover, Naruto's expression was completely serious. Fierce, even. Super fierce.
"I don't want to. I refuse." Sasuke spoke each word deliberately, maintaining that cold expression.
"That's it exactly, Sasuke! I see in you the same excellent quality I possess—an iron will that others cannot sway."
"I really like you as a friend." Naruto sighed appreciatively.
"Hmph, big guy, I never said I'd agree to be your friend," Sasuke said with stubborn pride.
"Also, this time and last time, I lost. No matter what methods you used, a loss is a loss. I admit it."
"But I, Sasuke, will defeat you one day." His tone carried absolute seriousness.
"Okay, I'll be waiting. But this sparring session isn't over yet."
THWACK. THWACK. THWACK.
Sasuke's face swelled even more. Looking at Sasuke's condition, Naruto felt a twinge of reluctance. "System, is this really okay?"
[Of course it is. What's wrong?] The System quickly corrected Naruto's thinking.
[Have you forgotten the path you must walk to make friends across the entire world? This is the correct method.]
[Or perhaps, Naruto, you don't think Sasuke would make a good friend? Are you planning to give up on befriending Sasuke?]
Hearing the System's words, Naruto immediately felt ashamed. How could he even consider giving up? Everything was difficult at the beginning—that's how it always worked. He absolutely couldn't give up on Sasuke as a friend.
In an instant, Naruto's energy returned in full force.
"Sasuke, let's compete again next time!" After delivering a friendly farewell, Naruto picked up the schoolbag given to him by Grandpa Third and walked away.
Watching the tall figure depart with that pink backpack on his shoulders, Sasuke clenched his fists. Fury and determination surged through his chest. I, Sasuke, will not be inferior to anyone.
Big guy, I'll definitely beat you.
Sasuke stood up and pulled the small mirror from his schoolbag, examining the wounds on his face. More swollen than yesterday.
"The big guy must be jealous that I'm more handsome. Yes, that must be it..."
Thinking along these lines, Sasuke found his resolve strengthening. But with fresh injuries, how would he face his brother and parents? His brother would be understanding.
But yesterday, explaining the facial injuries to his mother had taken forever.
As Sasuke neared home, he spotted his brother Itachi on the streetlamp again—still standing there with folded arms, gazing at something in the distance.
"Brother..." Sasuke called out softly.
Hearing Sasuke's voice, Itachi snapped back to awareness and looked down. Seeing the new wounds on Sasuke's face, Itachi's expression turned cold. A terrifying murderous aura leaked from him.
Yesterday had been minor friction between classmates.
But today... his little brother, when did it become acceptable for someone else to beat him repeatedly?
If anyone was going to hit Sasuke, it should only be Itachi himself.
With killing intent hidden in his chest, Itachi jumped off the streetlamp. The moment his feet touched ground, he stumbled forward.
Sasuke quickly grabbed his older brother before he could fall. "Brother, what's wrong? Are you okay?"
Itachi waved dismissively. "I've been standing on the streetlamp too long. My feet went numb. Give me a moment."
Sasuke felt somewhat speechless about his brother's explanation. Why do you keep standing on streetlamps? Itachi had once told him that standing high allowed you to see things others couldn't.
Sasuke still didn't quite understand.
"Sasuke, is that classmate bullying you again? Should your brother teach him a lesson?" Itachi suggested.
Regarding his brother's proposal, Sasuke refused immediately. He clenched his fists and said seriously, "Brother, no need. I'll defeat him myself."
"Alright, alright. Brother respects your decision." Itachi rubbed Sasuke's head affectionately.
Sasuke's face flushed. He squinted his eyes and enjoyed his older brother's touch. Itachi's hand held all the gentleness in the world.
"Brother, I want to eat your cooking. I haven't had it in so long." Sasuke opened his eyes and looked at Itachi expectantly.
"Of course. I'll go home and cook for you right now." A smile appeared on Itachi's face. After spending so much time in darkness, seeing his brother each time he emerged was the most beautiful thing in the world.
When they arrived home, Uchiha Mikoto saw that the injuries on her son's face had multiplied. Her heart ached. She quickly retrieved ointment to help Sasuke apply it while continuously asking what had happened.
Sasuke was naturally too embarrassed to tell his mother a classmate had hit him. Face burning, he said, "I accidentally fell."
Mikoto clearly didn't believe it. Fall like this?
The fist marks were obvious. Did he think she was blind?
"Mother, Sasuke's face really did fall. It was a very special type of fall—extremely unusual. I'm sure you've never seen anything like it." Itachi spoke up from the side.
Hearing this, Mikoto glared at Itachi.
Sasuke looked at his brother gratefully. "Brother, go cook quickly. I'm hungry."
"Right, right, right! I'll cook now and make a whole table of Sasuke's favorite dishes." Itachi rubbed Sasuke's head once more before diving into the kitchen.